Herbal medicines a healthier bet

KOCHI: Yesterday’s science is today’s technology and tomorrow’s industry. The contribution of different branches of science to everyday life was discussed at the national seminar on modern streams of biochemistry organised by the Department of Chemistry, St Albert’s College, in association with the Spices Board.  The two-day seminar is being organised as part of the International Year of Chemistry celebrations which commenced at the college in February. Chief guest Palpu Pushpangadan, director general, Amity Institute for Herbal and Biotech Products, Thiruvananthapuram, inaugurated the seminar. He spoke on the latest trends in biotechnology and bioprospecting in new drug design.  Palpu, who was instrumental in setting up the first ethnopharmacology laboratory in India at Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu, in 1987 said that more traditional medicines were being made into modern medicines by testing and standardising them. Tribal people have deep knowledge about 8,900 wild plants but their medicinal values are only orally transmitted. Herbal medicines are produced by testing, valuating and standardising the medicinal content of plants. In ayurveda also  medicines are extracted from plants but they have been recorded and now being tested and evaluated.   People are more health conscious these days  and turning towards herbal medicines. Unlike allopathic medicines which have a single molecule, (for example, aspirin is a single molecule) herbal medicines have many molecules which help in reducing side-effects. Though allopathy offers quick relief deaths due to side-effects are on the rise.   The afternoon session saw T S Muraleedharan, chief, Technical Services, Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal, speak on ‘The ayurvedic drug sector-an evolving knowledge segment.’ The session ended with the paper presentation contest for research scholars.   Prof Chandradasan, convener, introduced the seminar, prof Abraham K Koshy, head, Department of Chemistry, welcomed the gathering. Rev Clement Valluvassery, manager, St Albert’s College, gave the presidential address. Prof Robert Stanley, principal, honoured the chief guest. Cyriac Mathew gave the vote of thanks. The seminar will continue on Thursday.